Guatemala

The Land of Eternal Spring

Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America, bordered by Mexico to the north and west, Belize and the Caribbean to the northeast, Honduras to the east, El Salvador to the southeast and the Pacific Ocean to the south. With an estimated population of around 17.2 million, it is the most populous country in Central America and is the 11th most populous country in the Americas. Guatemala is a representative democracy; its capital and largest city is Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción, also known as Guatemala City, the largest city in Central America.[1]

Guatemala City is home to many of the nation's libraries and museums, including the National Archives, the National Library, and the Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, which has an extensive collection of Maya artifacts. It also boasts private museums such as the Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Textiles and Clothing and the Museo Popol Vuh, which focuses on Maya archaeology. Both these museums are housed on the Universidad Francisco Marroquín campus. Most of the 329 municipalities in the country have at least a small museum.[1]

Climate

Located within the tropics and with elevations ranging between sea level and more than 13,000 feet (4,000 metres), Guatemala experiences a diversity of climates. Below 3,000 feet (900 metres) in elevation, average monthly temperatures range between 70 and 80 °F (21 and 27 °C) throughout the year; between 3,000 and 5,000 feet (900 and 1,500 metres), temperatures range between 60 and 70 °F (16 and 21 °C); and from 6,000 to 9,000 feet (1,500 to 2,700 metres), they range between 50 and 60 °F (10 and 16 °C). Above 9,000 feet, temperatures are marginal for crops, but the grazing of animals is possible.[2]

Language

Although all official transactions in Guatemala are conducted in Spanish, many documents—such as those related to the peace agreement of December 1996 that ended more than three decades of civil war in Guatemala—are translated into more than 20 Mayan languages. The largest Maya groups are the Mam, who reside in the western regions of Guatemala; the K’iche’, who occupy areas to the north and west of Lake Atitlán; the Kaqchikel, who extend from the eastern shores of Lake Atitlán to Guatemala City; and the Q’eqchi’, who are concentrated in the sierras to the north and west of Lake Izabal. Although many Maya are bilingual in Spanish, there has been a strong commitment since the late 20th century to assert Maya ethnic identity and to promote the various Maya languages for both daily use and literature.[2]

THE COMMUNITY IN AND AROUND THE C.A.G.

Christian Academy of Guatemala campus is located in a suburb of Mixco called San Cristóbal, very near the capital - Guatemala City. The population of Mixco is approximately 690,000.

Life in San Cristóbal continues to develop and offer many modern conveniences. There are grocery stores, banks, and restaurants nearby. Most of the C.A.G. faculty and community live nearby and have their own cars in order to get around as public transportation is not recommended. Guatemala City is close by, however, travel times in and out of the city depend heavily on traffic.

There are many touristy attractions "nearby." La Antigua, the famous tourist city, is about 18 km (35 minutes by car), Volcán de Pacaya is about an hour away by car, and the Pacific Ocean, with it's black sand beaches is about 75 minutes by car.

There are many church options available to all. Many churches are only in Spanish, however, there are English-speaking churches in the area. Some faculty and families have decided to attend biblically-sound national churches while others have decided to attend the English churches. This is a family decision. If Spanish is not strong we recommend joining an English church initially and later exploring Spanish churches.

Living in Guatemala can be challenging. Although most modern conveniences can be found nearby, occasionally some have found difficulty in adjusting and fitting into the Guatemalan culture. It takes time and dedication to adapt to and understand any new culture. A lot of these difficulties can be relieved by spending time with our warm and loving Guatemalan staff.